Tobacco-knife



(No Model.)

W. S. TERRELL.

TOBACCO KNIFE.

Patented Aug. 11, 1891.

. Lfie f Will i at 777 5. 7E rnzZZ.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM S. TERRELL, OF WARREN PLAINS, NORTH CAROLINA.

I TOBACCO-KNIFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 457,385, dated August 11, 1891.

Application filed May 15, 1891. Serial No. 392,936. (No model.)

fully described and claimed, and as illustrated on the sheet of drawings, wherein Figure l is aside elevation of this improved knife in position for use. Fig.2 is an edge view of the same, taken at right angles to Fig. 1.

Referring to the said drawings, the letter H designates the handle, which, as shown, is of approximately pistol shape, and B is the body thereof, which tapers to the lower end E. At said end it is split and a knife-blade K is inserted, being held in place by transverse rivets R, whose heads are countersunk, so as to stand flush with the sides of the body. The knife is of approximately segmental form, its curved edge C being sharpened by grinding or otherwise, as illustrated.

It is well known in this art that the stalk of the plant is first split longitudinally to receive the stick upon which it is hung for drying, and is afterward cut off below the slit. This work has heretofore been done with an ordinary cleaver or butcher-knife, and the shape of such knife necessitated the operator stooping or bending, because the handle was in alignment with the cutting-edge. I11 the present invention the operator can stand upright and by a downward pressure force the cutting-edge into the stalk and split the latter. This can be done without his stooping at all, on account of the length of the body B, and this length also serves the additional advantage that it prevents his hand coming in contact with the leaves or sticks of the plant, which often results in breaking them 01f and in scratching his hand. The tapered shape of the body also prevents injury to the plant and facilitates the grinding of the edge.

I do not limit myself to any particular materials nor to the exact'shape and proportion of parts.

WVhat is claimed as new is The herein-described tobacco-knife, the.

Witnesses:

J. E. RooKER, W. T. ROOKER. 

